Miami University
Miami University Luxembourg

 

The MUDEC Summer Program

for Summer '08

MUDEC's chateau from a hot air balloon(photo of the campus from a hot air balloon, showing our 15th century castle)

 

Especially for Students Who Cannot Study Abroad for a Semester

Complete a Thematic Sequence in 7 Weeks

Last year MUDEC--the Dolibois European Campus--introduced a new Summer Program, designed to meet the needs of students whose curriculum does not permit an entire semester or year of study abroad. Participants will enjoy high quality courses on European topics in a setting that exemplifies the diversity of Europe. In the summer of 2008, the weeklong faculty-guided field study tour will be to Berlin. The program also includes the enriching experience of living with a host family and the opportunity to fulfill the Miami Plan Thematic Sequence requirement.The Summer Program will include as many of the aspects of MUDEC’s renowned semester and year program as possible within the span of 7 weeks.

Now in its 39th year, MUDEC enjoys strong ties in the Luxembourg community and the support of a wide range of local and international experts and officials; it offers its students the benefits and opportunities those connections afford.

All majors are welcome!

Here are some basic facts about our wonderful program:

Our courses have no prerequisites.

The program lasts 7 weeks and includes 5-7 days of faculty-guided travel that is an integral part of one of the courses of study.

The three courses (3 credits each for a total of 9 credits) constitute a Miami Plan Thematic Sequence.

There is no language requirement. All classes are taught in English.

All students live with host families and therefore have an inside view of the local culture. They have the opportunity to interact with local people and learn about everyday life in Luxembourg.

All grades and credits transfer automatically to Miami in Oxford, Ohio; non-Miami students should be able to easily transfer credits to their universities.

Honors Program students: You can use your summer stipends to cover 8 of the credit hours; you can complete a course extension and receive credit for an Honors Non-Course or Category B experience.

University Scholars who entered Miami in 2006 or later may earn 2 enrichment points in Category A.

Summer Luxembourg Program

Differdange, Luxembourg

May 15 – July 4, 2008

We appreciate your interest in MUDEC’s Summer Study Abroad Program in Luxembourg. If you have any questions that are not covered here, please feel free to contact us in the Lux Office: 217 MacMillan Hall, 513-529-5050. You can email us at Luxembourg@muohio.edu

COURSES:

MUDEC’s Summer Program is open to all majors at Miami. In the summer 2008 program, every student must enroll in HST xxx (3 credit hours), COM xxx (3 credit hours) and CLS xxx (3 credit hours). Our course numbers will be assigned later this fall. There are no prerequisites for these courses. Students must complete all nine credit hours. No exceptions are possible.

 

Three Ohio-based Miami professors will teach courses that satisfy the Thematic Sequence requirement of the Miami Plan curriculum. The program lasts seven weeks and provides nine hours of Miami credit. Classes generally meet Monday through Thursday, providing students with long weekends for travel. A one-week field trip is incorporated into the summer program as well.

Five mandatory orientation sessions in Oxford during spring semester provide information for enrolled students, and introduce them to the program. They also provide our students with the opportunity to meet fellow students. On site in Luxembourg, there will be an additional orientation session incorporating some travel.

HST 333L How Post is Postwar Europe?  (3 credit hrs.)

“How ‘Post’ is Postwar Europe?” is a survey of the seismic transformations in Europe since the Second World War, oriented around the key question: How much of a turning point was 1945? Some have argued that, after 1945, Europe entered a dramatically new stage in its social, political, and cultural development marked by post-industrialism, post-materialism, post-nationalism, post-religion, and post-modernity. We will examine many of these smaller developments against the backdrop of the last six decades.

Taught by Dr. Erik Jensen.

COM 436L: Intercultural Communication in the European Context (3 credit hrs.)

This course introduces and examines fundamental concepts and issues in intercultural communication, particularly in the European arena. The course will explore the complex relationship between culture and communication and how the two affect cultural context, power, history, identity, and conflict. Specific attention will be given to the relevance and application of intercultural concepts to European cultures and society. No prerequisites are necessary for this course.

Taught by Dr. Stephanie Rollie.

CLS 310L: Ancient Rome & Modern Europe: The Roman Past in the Making of Modern Europe (3 credit hrs.)

At the height of its powers, the ancient Roman empire stretched from Britain to North Africa, from Spain to the borders of Asia. It encompassed almost all of modern-day Europe, including the modern countries of England, Spain, France, Luxembourg, Italy, and Belgium. This course examines the ways in which modern Europe has employed its Roman past in developing both the idea of Europe writ large and the identities of individual European nations.

Taught by Dr. Denise Eileen McCoskey.

 

SITE AND PROGRAM INFORMATION:

Luxembourg is in the heart of Europe, bordering on France, Germany and Belgium. Its central location makes exploring Europe very easy. Luxembourg is a charter member of the European Union; Luxembourg City is one of the three capitals of the European Union and an international financial center of Europe and the world.

Students in the Luxembourg program attend classes at the Miami University John E. Dolibois European Campus (MUDEC) and are housed with host families throughout the community. MUDEC is now located in a beautiful 15th century castle (château) and is set in a spacious park, located in the center of Differdange, Luxembourg’s third largest city. With the château’s historic significance, students are able to study in and become part of a truly European environment. The château contains classrooms, a library, computer facilities, a lounge area, and laundry facilities.

Host Families:

Housing is arranged through MUDEC with a local Luxembourg family. Consequently, living arrangements can vary widely. The student’s “family” may be a widow, and older couple, or a family with children. This will be a bed and breakfast situation and any additional relationship will depend on the “chemistry” between the student and the family. Usually this is accomplished by the student’s spending some of his or her free time with the host family. All families will provide a room, which may or may not be shared with other students, and continental breakfast. You may preference a roommate or roommates, though roommate requests cannot always be accommodated. Partial board will be provided through a meal plan (4 meals per week). Meals are a substantial expense for students in the Luxembourg program; plan accordingly. French or German is not necessary, but either language would be helpful. The host family will speak some combination of Luxembourgish, French, German, and English, possibly also some Portuguese or Italian.


Transportation and Travel:

Some students will live within walking distance of the château; many will take a bus or train to and from classes. For students living in Luxembourg City, there is a daily commute. We encourage students to speak with returnee students before filling out their housing request forms, so that they may hear about the advantages of the various housing locations. Every student will be provided with a bus & train pass--the unlimited (1 year) Jumbo Pass -- for travel anywhere within the country of Luxembourg. Long distance phone calls may be made from the post office or the château. There are many local banks at which money may be changed. Our "Yellow Book" provides detailed information about many practical matters, including a "count down calendar" for getting ready, what credit and debit cards are recommended, computers at the chateau, cell phones, Eurail tickets, etc.

There are organized field trips during the program. In addition, the schedule was specifically designed to allow students to leave Thursday afternoons in order to travel and explore Europe on their own. Our students should plan to travel in order to experience in person what they are studying in class. We encourage travel in small groups of two to three students who have similar interests. One of the orientation sessions in Oxford is devoted to preparing students for independent travel in Europe (a dvd of the session is available to students who cannot attend). Our Student Activities Coordinator in Luxembourg helps the students learn the ropes on site. Luxembourg is small and centrally located in Europe, so students are able to travel to other countries with ease.

A valid passport with at least SIX MONTHS FROM EXPIRATION LEFT ON IT WHEN YOU RETURN TO THE U.S. is required to study in Luxembourg. No visa is required for students remaining in Europe less than three months. Student insurance will be covered for the students within the program fee. Should a health problem arise, the staff at the château will help decide where to go for medical attention.

PROGRAM PREREQUISITES:

All students in the Luxembourg Summer Program are expected to represent themselves and the University in a consistently exemplary fashion, both in the classroom and in the overseas community. Accordingly, acceptance to the Luxembourg Summer Program is only offered to students in good academic standing and with a satisfactory judicial record. Acceptance may be withdrawn if a student’s record deteriorates after enrollment, and acceptance will be withdrawn if a student goes on academic or judicial probation prior to departure. No student may participate in a Luxembourg Summer Program while on academic or judicial probation.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS:

  • A 2.5 G.P.A. (on a scale of 4.0) is required.
  • Rising sophomores, juniors & seniors may apply.
  • An essay and a letter of recommendation from one of your professors; plus grade and conduct checks.
  • Disciplinary History - The disciplinary history of each student will be reviewed by the Luxembourg Coordinator to determine admissibility. While most minor offenses do not affect admission, the consent of the Dean of the Luxembourg Campus or designee is required to admit any student* who is on disciplinary probation or within the 12 months preceding application has:
  • Been found responsible for violating Code 1 of the Code of Student Conduct (other than a single violation of Section 2.105.B)
  • Been convicted of any criminal offense; or
  • Any pending University disciplinary or criminal charges.
  • For students enrolled at institutions other than Miami University, these requirements will be applied and adapted as necessary to the applicable student conduct rules of any college or university in which the student is in attendance. Non-Miami students must be temporarily admitted to Miami as "transient students."
  • A student is required to maintain eligibility following application and acceptance. Failure to maintain eligibility will result in revocation of admission.

APPLICATION PROCEDURES:

Obtain an application or contact us for more info in the following ways: Call 9-5050, Email Luxembourg@muohio.edu or stop by the Luxembourg Office in 217 MacMillan Hall. All students must fill out a judicial form to qualify for application into the program. The first-round deadline this year will be December 7th with rolling admissions thereafter for any open spots.